Crew Signs Lampson

The Columbus Crew has signed keeper Matt Lampson to a mult-year contract, the team announced
today in a press release. Lampson is the second Homegrown Player to sign with the team.

“This is a dream come true,” Lampson said in a release. “It has been amazing to me because I
grew up a Crew fan and, as a youth player, your goal is always to play professionally and to be
able to play for your hometown team. This is just an incredible feeling. I can’t wait to put on the
Crew jersey and work with great guys like (keepers) Will (Hesmer) and Andy (Gruenebaum) and (coach)
Robert (Warzycha), and do whatever I can to help the team.”

Lampson is a native of Hilliard, Ohio, and graduated from St. Charles Prep before signing with
Northern Illinois. He redshirted and then transferred to the Buckeyes, appearing in 56 matches and
posting a 0.86 goals-against average and 24 shutouts. The latter figure is second-best in OSU
history.

In 2008, Lampson was the starting keeper for the Crew Soccer Academy U-17/18 team shortly after
completing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma that remains in remission. That team finished third at
the Development Academy National Finals.

By Major League Soccer rules, a team may sign a player to his first pro contract without making
him pass through the MLS SuperDraft if he has trained for at least one year in the club's youth
development program and has met league criteria. The first Home Grown player to sign with the Crew
was Aaron Horton, a Lewis Center native who joined the organization in May.

“Matt is big, athletic goalkeeper who commands his box very well,” Warzycha said. “He is
confident and had great success at the collegiate level. Because he is a member of our system and
played at Ohio State, we have been able to closely monitor his development and he has continued to
improve and grow as a player. We are very happy to welcome him to the first team.”